Abortion in Cattle. 
7 So 
irther qnotes Zundel to the effect that if septic bacteria are 
itroduced into the vagina abortion follows. This statement is 
•orthy of careful thought ; because it is the first suggestion 
let with that the introduction of morbid material will induce 
jie contraction of the uterus and probably cause the death of 
ae foetus bv blood-poisoning as a consequence of this kind of 
localation. Dr. Fleming, at the conclusion of his article, 
ffers the suggestion that abortion is probably dependent on a 
pecific virus. 
j It remained for another writer. M. Xocard, ten years later, 
'o assert a positive opinion that this was the cause, and he 
kdded to that assertion a statement that he had discovered the 
'irus on which the occurrence of this malady in the epizootic 
iorm depends. 
The next author is Professor Axe, who, in 1885, wrote a 
pamphlet on the subject of abortion, giving a history of cases 
vhich had come under his own observation, and referring to the 
heory of contagion, which, however, Professor Ase looks 
ipon as insufficiently sustained by the evidence. Although he 
loes not deny that abortion may be contagious, his opinion on 
;he point is expressed in the following quotation ^ : — 
Of abortion it may be said (!) that it is not known to be identified with 
aiatter possessing contagious properties ; (2) that it has no fixed period of 
incubation ; (3) that, except in occasional instances, it is unattended with 
fever ; (4) that one attack predisposes to a second, and is usually followed 
by several in succession. 
These are qualities which do not belong to contagious diseases 
in general, and the question is still left open as to the disease 
arising from the action of either septic organisms or organisms 
possessing special pathogenic properties. 
In this Society's Journal for 1885,^ there is an account by 
the same author of an extensive outbreak of abortion amongst 
pregnant ewes in Lincolnshire. It seems that, in the course 
of his inquiry, Professor Axe examined 106 flocks, containing a 
total of 51,475 ewes. Among all these flocks abortion had been 
going on for some time. He describes the method of feeding 
which had been adopted, and says that the use of food such as 
turnips or other roots in an unripe and watery condition would be 
calculated to damage the system, and predispose the animals to 
suffer from anv existing causes. He sums up in the following 
words : — 
First and foremost [as a cause of the disease] stands the mischievous and 
' Abortion in Corrt : iU Causes, Prevention, and Treatment. By J. Wortlev 
Axe. Page .31. (A. N'apier, Sevmour Street, Easton Square, X.W.) 
' R.A.S.E, Journal, Vol. XX'l., Pt. I., 2nd Series (1885), p. 206. 
